TWO North East Wales businesses could be crowned winners in the first national Nectar Business Small Business Awards.

George Smith, chief executive officer of model train manufacturer Dapol Ltd, has entered his Chirk-based company into the Small Business of the Year category and Vertupak Ltd, an environmentally friendly packaging company founded by Peter Davies, has been entered into the Start Up of the Year category.

Both firms are now in with a chance to make it to the awards shortlist and scoop the final prize.

Dapol Ltd, a UK manufacturer of fully functional model trains, was founded in 1984 but struck by a devastating fire in 1995 and lost more than £2m worth of tools and products.

Mr Smith was drafted in to help the company recover in 1996 and the business underwent dramatic changes.

After re-establishing itself in the market, Dapol Ltd has gone on to produce new model trains and establish a 100% UK manufacturing base. It now supplies countries all over the world with its products and George is proud that his global customers come to a UK company, rather than a foreign manufacturer, for traditional model trains.

Vertupak Ltd, although operating in a completely different market, is equally proud of the business success in the short time the company has been up and running.